Vanmates manages furnished student rooms and homestays built around a BCIT commute. BCIT's main Burnaby campus sits just southeast of Metrotown, so our Burnaby and Mount Pleasant homes give you quick, reliable transit to class. BCIT is a hands-on polytechnic with year-round, program-specific intakes, so flexible move-in matters — and we can match your exact start date. Rent is genuinely all-in: Wi-Fi, utilities, and weekly cleaning are included, with 24/7 WhatsApp support in your language. We've placed international students since 2016, and most of them booked before they ever landed — with a real Vancouver-area address for their study permit and a self-check-in guide waiting.
Co-living from $975/mo · homestays from $1,300/mo · all-in, no surprise bills
One monthly price covers everything. No separate utility, internet, or cleaning bills — the number you see is the number you pay.
Pricing last reviewed: July 2026. All prices in CAD and include Wi-Fi, utilities, and weekly common-area cleaning. Burnaby homes closest to the campus and Metrotown transit sit toward the top of each range.
Pulled directly from our internal Vancouver inventory — real rooms accepting bookings today, with Burnaby and Mount Pleasant homes closest to the Burnaby campus. If nothing matches, you'll always get a next step.
BCIT's main campus sits in Burnaby, just southeast of Metrotown, so where you live decides your daily commute. Here's what to expect from each of our neighborhoods.
Note: most BCIT programs run from the Burnaby campus. Confirm your campus with us and we'll match a home with the shortest, most reliable commute for your schedule.
Every option is chosen for its BCIT commute, safety, and walkable amenities. Here's how the choices trade off.
Closest · quick transit to campus
Burnaby is the natural home base for BCIT students — 10–15 minutes to the Burnaby campus by bus or SkyTrain, with Metrotown and Patterson stations close by. Our Burnaby homes are comfortable shared houses, typically 4–6 bedrooms, and they suit students who want the shortest, most reliable trip to class. Rooms closest to campus and transit sit toward the top of the range.
Value + transit · everything at your door
Metrotown is Burnaby's busiest hub — SkyTrain, buses, and Metropolis mall with groceries, food, and services all in one place. It's a strong value-plus-convenience pick: a short hop to BCIT and quick access to the rest of the region. Best for students who want city amenities on their doorstep and a painless campus commute.
Central · Millennium Line to campus
Mount Pleasant is Vancouver's most central-yet-affordable neighborhood — breweries, Main Street's design shops, and a ~20-minute Millennium Line ride to BCIT. It suits students who want a livelier base with easy transit toward the Burnaby campus in one direction and downtown in the other. A great fit if you're also near BCIT's Downtown campus.
Quiet · east Van · budget-friendly
Renfrew Heights is a calm, residential pocket of east Vancouver with direct buses south to the Burnaby campus. It trades nightlife for quiet study time and lower rents, making it ideal for focused students who value peace and a straightforward commute over being in the middle of everything.
Three ways to live as a BCIT student. Here's how they compare on the things that matter.
| Co-living | Homestay | Private suite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From (all-in) | $975/mo | $1,300/mo | $1,500/mo |
| Meals | Self-catered, shared kitchen | Two meals a day included | Self-catered, own kitchen |
| Best for | Social students on a budget | Under-25s & first arrivals | Couples & working students |
| Privacy | Private room, shared spaces | Private room in a family home | Fully self-contained |
| Support | House manager + 24/7 WhatsApp | Host family + 24/7 WhatsApp | 24/7 WhatsApp |
"I booked my Burnaby room from Manila before I flew. The video tour matched exactly, and SkyTrain from Metrotown got me to the BCIT campus in about 15 minutes. My first week of classes was completely stress-free."
"My BCIT program had a January intake, and Vanmates matched my exact start date — no waiting for a term to line up. All-in pricing is real too: one payment, no hidden hydro or internet bills."
Verified resident reviews. See our cancellation policy and community guidelines for the full terms.
Not ready to book, or can't find the right room? Send your details and we'll match you to available homes near BCIT — and add you to the priority list so you hear first when new rooms open. BCIT runs multiple intakes (January and September plus program-specific starts), so availability is more even year-round — but September still books up fastest, so reserve ahead for a fall start.
Our closest homes are in Burnaby, 10–15 minutes to the BCIT Burnaby campus by bus or SkyTrain from Metrotown or Patterson stations. Mount Pleasant is about 20 minutes on the Millennium Line, and Metrotown is the closest major transit hub to campus. Renfrew Heights in east Vancouver is a quiet, direct option too. Wherever you land, we pick homes with a short, reliable trip to the SW Marine Drive campus.
The cheapest option is a co-living room, which starts at CAD$975/month all-in. The lowest-priced rooms are usually a little farther out — a shared Burnaby or Renfrew Heights house — where you trade a slightly longer transit ride for a lower rent. Every price includes Wi-Fi, utilities, weekly cleaning, and 24/7 WhatsApp support, so there are no extra bills to budget for.
Yes. Because BCIT runs multiple intakes — January and September plus program-specific start dates — availability is more even across the year than at term-only universities. We can usually match your exact program start with a room, and most homes have a 3-month minimum with 30 days' notice after that. September still books up fastest, so reserve ahead for a fall start.
Yes — most of our BCIT international students reserve before landing. We do a video walkthrough of the room, share the exact lease terms and total move-in cost up front, and hold the room with a deposit. You get keys and a self-check-in guide before you fly, so you have a confirmed Vancouver-area address for your study permit and arrival.
Most BCIT programs run from the main Burnaby campus, which our Burnaby and Mount Pleasant homes serve best. BCIT also has a Downtown Vancouver campus and an Aerospace campus near YVR (Marine Drive) — our Mount Pleasant and central Vancouver homes are well placed for the Downtown campus, and we can advise on transit for Marine Drive. Tell us your campus on the match form and we'll steer you to the closest options.
The full picture across every campus and neighborhood — pricing, transit, and how matching works.
See Vancouver housing →Rooms and homestays built around a Simon Fraser commute — Burnaby Mountain transit and all-in pricing.
See SFU housing →Live with a vetted local family, two meals a day included. Best for younger students and first arrivals.
Explore homestays →Browse real available rooms or get matched by our team — we typically reply on WhatsApp within an hour.